Apparatus for finishing stereotype-plates.



No. 877,775. PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908. O. E. HOPKINS.

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES.

PPL AT 1m 1) .2 190. A w I0 ILE OCT 7 BSHEETS-SHEET 1.

' PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908. 0. B. HOPKINS.

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 28, 1907 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

| I l l l No. 877,775. PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908. O. E. HOPKINS.

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES. APPLIOATIOH FILED OUT. 28,1907.

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A. I F122 Jifl 6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908. 0. E. HOPKINS.

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28, 1907.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4.

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NOJ87737'75. PATENTED JAN. 28,1908.

0. E. HOPKINS.

JAPPA'BATUS FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES.

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I W/ n- M 21 PATENTED JAN. 28

a E. OPKms. APPARATUSFOR FINISHIHG STEREOTYPE P ATES.

APELI BATIOH FILED OCT. 28, 190'].

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7 UNITED STATES ars ostarc CHARLES EDWARD HOPKINS, or WORCESTER,MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE-PLATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan.. 2a, 1908.

Application filed October 28, 1907. Serial No. 399.465.

trimming and finishing curved stereotype plates and while it isespecially adapted for use in conjunction with a curved stereotypecasting apparatus of the type described in my prior British Patent No:15314 of 1905, still it (or certain parts of it) may also be used inconjunction with any other suitable kind or type ofapparatus for castingcurved stereotype plates. In apparatus of this kind it is important thatthe plates should be cast,

trimmed, and finished (readyfor placing in the printing machine) in theshortest time possible, but a certain amount of time is necessarily lostin allowing the stereotype plate to cool before it is taken from thecasting chamber and whereas the main body of the'plate coolscomparatively quickly the riser or slug owing. to its thickness takeslonger to solidify throughout its mass and it is impossible to cut thisriser or slug off and trim the plate until it is solid as there is adangerof liquid metal running down over the convex surface of the plateand spoiling the impression thereon.

Now according to the present invention I remove the cast plate from thecasting chamber as soon-as it is sufficiently cool so to do and carry itin a receiver to a special trimming cylinder where it has itsconcavesurface shaved previous to its riser or slug being cut off, so that thislatter has plenty of time to solidify throughout its mass. In additionthis invention comprises an entirely new and improved trimming andfinishing apparatus automatically connected up and working so that allthe steps of the operation are performed without the necessity of handwork. Moreover where quickness is so important it is an advantage toperform the operation of cutting off the riser etc. away from thecasting chamber and not as in my aforesaid prior pat nt during the actof removing the plate as this cutting operation takes some time i. e.about four seconds, whereas otherwise the cast plate can be more quicklyremoved and hence the casting chamber the sooner prepared for the nextcasting operation.

I will not attempt to describe the casting operation as this operationiswell-known nor does it form, nor does the apparatus therefor form, anypart of my present invention; but will pass on to the description of themechanism, its connections and move ments from the point at which, thecasting being complete, the casting chamber. is

opened, until the point at which the cast plate is delivered ready forputting into the printing machine; and in order that myinvention may bereadily understood I will describe it with reference to the drawings 1have annexed hereto in which it is shown in conjunction with an uprightrotatable core casting mechanism but it must be understood that thesedrawings illustrate only one method of carrying out my invention, thefull scope whereof may readily be gathered from the description togetherwith the state ment hereinbefore contained.

Figures 1 and 1 when-taken together show side 'elevational views of .thecasting chamber receiver and the finishing cylinder with the apparatusand connections for operating the same. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of thewhole apparatus. Fig. 3 shows a back sectional view of the receiver andits connections on line DD of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows a back elevationalview of the finishing cylinder and its connection. Figs. 1, 1 and l'show the guide plate 122 (Figs. and 2) in plan, side and end viewsrespec-- tively. Figs. 1 and 1 show the guide block 123 (Fig. 1) in sideand planviews respectively. Fig. 2 shows the yoke clamping mechanism 314(Fig. 2) in plan View. Fig. 4 shows a section through Fig. 4 on theline-aa While the cast plate is being shaved. Fig. 4 shows a section'ofFig. 1 on the line b?). Fig. 4 shows in detail the riser ejecting'apparatus (Fig. 4). Fig.4 shows cam 302 and roller 306 (Fig. 4) and itsoperation. Fig. 4 shows the cam disk 316 (Fig 4.) in plan view.

In the follo ing more detailed description the same numerals indicatethe same parts throughout.

After a casting has been made the operator pushes down on the "dragoperating handlel (Fig. 1) thereby starting to withdraw the segmentalback-2 away from the action the flexible matrix is gradually separatedfrom the stereotype casting 3 formed "15. way in upperpart of the basebox B) which with the jaw fixed upon the. main driving upon theperiphery of the cylindrical core 5 as soon as the back is movedsulliciently to entirely separate the matrix from thestereotype a proecting arm 6 (Fig. 2) attached to the lower end of the back causes apivoted pawl 7 to engage. a rock-arms attached'to a slide-piece 9 (whichoperates in a guidein turn is connected to a' clutch mounted upon themain driving shaft 200 through the rock-arm 10 attached to the uprightrock shaft 11 and-rock yoke 12 operating in the sliding collaro'f theclutch mechanism'13; a further backward movement of the drag causes therock arm 8' to withdraw the spring-actuated stop 1.4 from engagementwith the stop 15 attached to the lower end of the cylindrical core 5(Figs. 2. and 3) the withdrawal of' this sprin actuated stop allows thespring 16, whidh has been held compressed, to expand thereby moving thesliding jaw of the clutch up into engagement shaft 200:; instantlyupon'the engagement of the clutch the core i. s"'s'tarted to revolvethereby caii'ying'the' stereotype 3 out of the casting Chamber; as thecylinder finishes .a

half revolution'a second stop 17 engages the s ring-actuated stop 14thereby causing (by t. e inverse action above-described) the movable jawof the clutchl'S to become disengaged. when the cylinder comes toa fullstop .with the casting in position as shown in Figs. 1 2 and 3. Theoperator now proceeds to move the back 2 up and into posiprojects abovethe'receiver A) engages projections' 1.13 pivotez on the receiver so asto operatethe supporting arms 11 1 to which are attached the clampingprojections or bars rate an allow-the stereotype t9 pass by over theguide-ways. 18 into position in the receiver when projections 113 and11.0 will be moved over the straight edge of the stereo-.

type castin by springs 114,114 (Figs. 1 and 3) 1110111'1te upon thereceiver A- and the steteot e will therefore be firmly locked in.thamecelver.

e plate cast in the casting chamber 1e bars 110 to sepamoving thestereotype into position'in the receiver as aforesaid an arm 115 (Figs.land 2) which is attached to one of the lower-sup" porting arms 11 1isforced from engagement with the operating lever 116 connected with thesliding collar of the clutch 118 through the link 117, when thespririg119 which has been held 'at tensien forces the jaws" of theclutch into' working e agement thereby throwing into operation tliefinishingr hech anism; a rock arm 204 to wvhichis attached'the camroller 203 operating 'in: a groove in .cam- 202 -mount.ed on the cycle'shaft 201\(Fig."2) is connected to the re ceiver A through a link 20 5operative 'on a so shaft 206 (Figs; 2 and 3) rigidly fixed to the vlowerend of the-receiverA and the shaft 206 in turn is held in position andguided, also operatesthroughaguide-plate 122 (Figs. 1, 1 and 1) looseonthe sha'ft206 and-a guideblock 123(Figs. 1', 1 and I?) keyed or fixedto the shaft, one end of the guide-block being formed .intoa sector gearhaving a. suitable number of teeth 224 to-c'ause the. receiver.A to makea half revolution'when passing over therack. 225 fixed to the base B(which as shown in Fig. 1 is brekenaway so as to clearly show thenechanism under andinit).

A guide-way 220 (Fig. 2) is formed int'he base B through andv in whichthe guide-plate 122 operates and supports the receiver, additionalguideways 226(Fig. 4) are arranged at each end of the way into which-theguideblock123 entersafter the receiver has made a half-turn andlocks thereceiver firmly into: position owing to the guide-block being rigidlyfixed to the receiver shaft 206.-

Attached to the bottom ends of the pivots v upon which are mounted thesupporting armsy 111 of the clamps are short.l'inks.100'- (Figs. 2 and3) united by a bar 1.0.1 to which is pivoted a roller 102 which whenthere ceiver is moved up into position ag'ainstthe cylinder C, oncompletion of theoperation of 110 shaving is en aged by a -earn-plate103 m.- tached to 'the lower end of thefinishing cyl-. inder. Thiscam-plate is positioned so as -to operate uponthe roller- 102immediately the stereotype has been shaved thereby'unlocking the lockingclamps 110 from off the straight sides of the then shaved stereotype andallowing the stereotype to move with the revolving cylinder as hereafterdescribed.

Having described. the ejecting of the cast a As the projection 113 ispressed back on 55 the'finishing cylindereC suitable locking arms 300(Figs. 1, 2 and-i) are made toengage depressions 301 formed on theoutside-face of the receiver as follows: Supported on up sions 301 inthe receiver A and firmly locking the said receiver into position sothat the stereotype held therein can be shaved during the next halfrevolution of the cylinder as hereinafter described.

Mounted in an upright position within the base is what 1 term a cycleshaft for the reason that it -makes only one revolution for each cycleof movements necessary to convey, finish and deliver a stereotype plate.This cycle shaft 201 has mounted upon it a large gear 250 the uppersurface ofwhich has formed upon it a miter gear 251 which when inoperation is driven through miter gear 253 (Figs. 1 and 2) attached tothe'main driving shaft 200. Meshing in with gear 250' is gear 252 (Figs.1 and 4) which. is mounted upon the shaft of the finishing cylinder Cand being only one-half the size of gear 250 it makes two revolutions toone of that by which it is driven. The finishing cylinder is made inthis case of a size to fit a ainst the inside surface of the stereotypepate between the raised ribs and having depressions turned into its facesuitable for allowing the ribs cast uponthe stereotype to enter; by thismeans the stereotype is always solidly held against the face. of thefinishing cylinder during the trimming operations.

One side of the cylinder is made with a depression 311 (Figs. 2 and 4)which not only forms a place for the shaving knife 312 but also aclearance for the shavings of metal as they are removed from thestereotype ribs.

This clearance in this particular design of machine need only extend asufficient length to allow of a knife long enough to shave all the ribscast upon the stereotype.

Pivotal-ly attached to the upper end of the finishing cylinder-and oneto each side are curved bands or clamps 313, 313 (Figs. 1, '2, 4 and 2)being connected by links and cross bar 314 on which ismounted a roller315' wl'iic-h operates in a cam groove formed in cam 316 axially ahnedwith the cylinder hutlixed to the frame-work K so as to hold' stereotypeafter being shaved and carry it along with the cylinder andthereafteru'nclamp the severed riser as it is being ejected ashereinafter described. Also attached to the upper end of the cylinderis'the slug ejector consisting of a spring-actuated plate 31 T (Figs. 1,4 and 4) so placed that can be moved away or towards the cylindersurface; this ejector is connected to a crossrod operating through ahole in the cylinder shaft at the other end of the rod is a coil spring318 always under tension when the ejector plate is pressed into oragainst the 'cylinder, the face of which is recessed the thickness ofthe ejector plate so as to allow the face of the plate to .beapproximately flush with the cylinder surface when closed in; alsoattached to the cross-rod supporting the ejector plate 317 is an uprightarm having a roller 339 mounted upon the upper end operating upon a camface 340 in the fixed cam wheel 316 (which hastwo separate cam groove's) so that as the cylinder revolves carrying the stereotype aroundwith it (and through the trimmers hereafter described) it is so timedthat the instant the stereotype leaves the trimmers the roller 339 (Fig.4.") leaves the cam face, which act releases the tension on the spring313, which causes the ejector to shoot forward and force the riser overthe edge of the guide-ways 350 which are so formed as'to carry thesevered riser away from the cylinder and out of the path of the finishedstereotype below. 'As the cylinder continues to revolve the roller 339is drawn back by the cam face 340 and returns the ejector into positionagainst the face of the cylinder,

The trimming cutters of which I illustrate two (Fig. 4) 319 and 320 arefixed to a shaft "322 which is held in operative position by abracket'321 fixed to the top surface of the base plate B by bolts or byother suitable means; the said trimmers and shafts are connected to ashort shaft 323 operating through the base B; and' to the lower end ofthe said shaftis fixed a driving. belt pulley 324; this pulley 324 isdriven at a high rate of speed from pulley400 mounted upon upright powerconnecting shaft 401 (Fig. 2) through a belt connection 402. Thetrimmers 319 and 320 are formed with a bevel of approximately 45 andhave projecting cutting edges 325 which 'enter grooves or-clearances 326out into the face of the cylinder C (above and below the shaving knife312), said trimmers also entering through clearances 326 (Fig. 4) instop piece 331 attached to the peri hery of cylinder 0 opposite tothat-side o' the cylinder G into which the shaving knife 312 isinserted--said stop piece 331 extending the length of the stereotype ascast; thisv stop piece 331 engages the shaved stereotype the I instantit is released by the locking clamps ends of the'stereotype andsimulte'ne'onslyv'10 sever the riser-,--eiter which the finished 110 onreceiver A, endsimulteneously, thev clamps 313 (attached to the cylinderC) engage the riserend oi the stereotype; by

these 'combined meens the stereotype (sitter belng shavedY- s carriedaround bytlie cyl "indel- C so that the trimmers, may engage 1t and cutthe necessary bevels on"the curved stereotype is pushed -elong [by thestop-- piece331. 7

' For the purpose of guiding thestereotype as it is being ejected-fromthe cylinder/1 provide arms '328- having fingers 329' sittechcd to oneend whichproject into suitable I grooves 330 out in the finishingcylinders face there are elsoclesrsnces out into the shavinglmife and's'top piece in line with the grooves 330 so that the fingers-rosyremei'n et all times ,inthe grooves frneens are also provided forsupporting 'the arms 328, 328, in proper positionconsistin etonnpright-shsft332 fixed to the. bees p ste lvlou-nted npon the trimmerbrackets 3 are flexible brackets supportinganti-friction rollersv 340which" operate on the bevelscut into the stereotype by the trimmers- 319itnd320, the purpose for which these anti-Y lriction rollers areemployed 'is'tolsupport the'stereotype dnringnnd just after the trimmershave ceased to operate it plates the rollers upon flexible supports sothat they can give siir htly ssthe stereoty ie is being; freed from thesurface otthe cylinder C and pushed uponthe finished stereotypereceiving pletiorm 32Twhichis mountedupon the hese'Eend made to extendaround .one side of theiinishingeylirider nearly as far ssthe trimmingcnttersss well as project sufficiently fer sway from the cylin der tohold the ejected stereotype 3 shown in Fig. 2.

In order that this invention nlay be the better understood I. will nowdescribe the complete cycle or o eretions fronrthe time the plate iscast intie cestingchamber until it is delivered triinn ied. andfinished."

When the east plate in thecesting chsimber which is formed between therotating core end the drag 2 (Figs. 1 end 2) is su'fiiciontlyoool, thehandle 1' (Fig. 1) is de- "groove red on the arm Pt the shaft 200through its bevel.

v armies i The pivoted pewl7 end. the. rock arm18 ere moved out ofengagement and thenthe springstop 14 resumes its normal position. Thecore 5 continues to rotate until the stop 17 comes in contact with thespring stop 1 1 (i e., through 180) When the stop 14 and the. slide 9-are pnshed towards the right lhig. 2 L. e, into their original position,this causing the rock-yoke 12 -to be pressed back against the spring 16,thusthrowing the slidcoller of the clutch 13' out of gear and stopping);the rotation of the core The epperstus then remains in this position,e., as shovm in Fig.

with the cest plete 0pposits the receiver A, rm? the moved up againstthe core 5-} for eiiesh oesting-operetion; this movement of the drag 2causes the fingers 61 to push the cast plate oil? the core 5 on to theguide-Ways l8 and into the receiver A, and when the cast plate is in thereceiver A the projeotions llg, 110,;

'1'10 grasp the straight sides of the plate 114,

through the notion of the springs 114, and the srm's 111 '(Figs. 2 and3)..

The act of pressing the cast plate .into the receiver, A forces theprojections 113 to the riser of the stereotype which movement causes thearms 115 attached to one of the lower arms 111 operated hy the rejection11.3 to become disengaged rroin t e operet- 'ing lever 116 therebyreleasing the splrmg on the] clutch- 115. through. which the ishingmechanism hr ivn into operation. The apparatus ting the positionasqslfown inFig. 2, 1e 0 ster'eoty ebeingmoved into the ivel e. and t. eclutch 118 operetionthe cycle Wheel 250 is revolved proximately at thepoint .21 in the cam he linder {l is then in the position. SllOYuLr. ini 2 end theeiiect of. 0.. quarter revolution 9 I nc cycle Wheel 252 Willbe to draw the receiverit by means of the said cam-203; the cam groove202 and "the pivoted lever 204- np .tothe cylinder C, the said receiverA. being rotated duringits movement from the core 5 up to rock-225 andteeth 224; the cylinder C is at theseme time rotated through 180 whenthe arms 300," 300, sr'efthrown into the grooves 301; 301 v by theaction of the cam roller 306 working'in the groove 302 and through themedium of' the arm 304 and links 305; during the next quarter revolutionof t'hewheel 252 the-"receiveris held in this locked positionlwiththehcast plate firmly fixed therein by megins oitheprojections 115 and110) while the knife 312 is moved over its concave surface. therebyshaving the ribs .oi the same.

On starting the next quarter revolution of the Wheel 252 the, arms 300,300, are thrown out of the giro 301,301, Coy the i separeteowing totheir engaging theiece of until the uni roller 208 arrives epthecylinder 0 through 180 by means of the I means of the platform 327.

reverse action above described) andthe arms 313, 313, through the actionof the cam roller 315 in the fixed cam disk 316 (Fig. 4) and the yoke314., are made to grasp the riser of the cast plate; the cam piece 103attached to the bottom of the cylinder G simultaneously engages theroller 102 operating the clamping bars 110 which have held the stereotye fast in the receiver A and moves the c amping bars away so that thestereotype is free to rotate along with the cylinder C past the knives319 and 320 (Fig. 4) whereby the riser is cut off and the edges trimmedand beveled, during which operation the receiver has been moving towardsthe core 5. At the beginning of the next quarter revolution of the wheel252 the riser is pushed and started down the chute 350 by late 317, thespring 318 and the cam 339 (l ig. 1). In themiddle of the last quarterrevolution of the wheel 252 the receiverA is brought up against the core5 when the operation is stopped through the clutch 118 being thrown outof gear. On the next plate being pushed into the receiver this quarterrevolution is completed until the cam roller 203 again comesapproximately to the point Z in the cam groove 202. During this lastquarter revolution the cast stereotype is removed from the cylinder 0 bythe action of the arms 328 and fingers 329 and'is moved on to the I-provide the lever 116 with flexible end piece which is capable ofyielding to the arm 115 as the receiver A is moved away from the core.

Although my invention is as aforesaid particularly adapted for use inconjunction with such apparatus for casting curved stereotype plates ashas an upright rotatable core yet it is evident that it (or certainparts there. of) may be applied to other suitable forms of curvedstereotype casting apparatus.

What I claim is 1. -"In an apparatus for finishing s'tereot peplates,the combination of meansfor hol ing a plate, a finishing cylinderhaving means for shavin the inside of said plate, means for revolvi gsaid 0 lin'der, devices for finishing the ends of sai plate, and meanswhereby said cylinder after shaving the inside of said plate carriesalong with it the plate to be trimmed by the finishing devices,substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for finishing stereotype plates, the combination of acylinder carry= a shaving knife, means for revolving said cylinder,devices for holding a plate so that said shaving knife will operate uponits interior, means for releasing said plate when the shaving operationis completed, means for trimming the ends of said plate, and meanscarried by said cylinder for. removing said stmweplate along saidcylinder to subject said plate to the action of the trimming devicesafter the shaving operation has been completed, substantially asdescribed.

3. In an apparatus for finishing stereotype plates, the combination of acylinder pro vided with a shaving knife, means for revolving saidcylinder, means for holding a plate against said shaving ming the endsof said late, gripping means carried by said cylin er for engaging saidplate after the shaving operation has been completed, and means carriedby said cylinder for releasing the plate from the holding means andcausing it to be engaged by the as soon as the shaving op gripping meanseration is completed, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for finishing stereotype plates, the combination of acylinder pro-' vided with a shaving knife, means for revolving saidcylinder, means for holding a stereotype plate in' contact with saidknife, gripknife, means for trim- I ing means carried by said cylinderfor engaging said plate when the shaving operation is finished, meansfor trimming the ends of said plate, devices operated by the'revolutionof said cylinder for disengaging said holding means from said plate andfor bringing said gripping means into engagement with said plate hen theshaving operation is finished, and means for disengaging the finishedlate fromv said cylinder, substantially as escribed.

5. In an apparatus for finishing stereotype plates, the combination of acylinder provided with a shaving knife, means for holding said plateagainst said cylinder, means for trimming the ends of said plate,including devices for cutting off the riser at the upper end of saidplate, and means for ejecting the cut off portion from the machine,including a plate, a spring actuated rod carrying said plate, and a camattached to the cylinder and engaging said 'rod and controlling itsaction, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for finishmg stereotype plates, the combination of afinishi cylinder provided with a shavingknife, sai cylinder and knifebeing provided with grooves, disengaging fingers adapted to engage saidgrooves, means for revolving said cylinder, means'for holding a plate incontact with said shaving knife, means for disengaging said holdingmeans, means for gripping.the upper end of said plate when disengagedfrom said holding means, said gripping means being carried by saidcylinder, and means for trimming the ends of said. plate, substantiallyas described.

7. In an apparatus for finishing stereotype plates, the combination of acylinder provided with a recess, a shaving knife set in said recess,means for revolving said cylinder, means for holding a plate againstsaid In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my ihalwing knife, inleensfor 1disenlgeging said i hand in presence of two Witnesses. i I 0 dinmeans W ien the .siavec or'bion is 1 Y j finishsfi, means 0 erated bysaid cylinder CHARLES W 5 for gripping said piate when so released, end"Witnesses: 4 devices for trimming ofi the ends of said H. D. JAMESON,

cylinder, substantially as described. 7 L. RAND"

